Granville Island – Gillian McMillan — Rara Avis

LES GRANDES DAMES Debra Sloan

Gillian McMillan — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 04:58:25 +0000

The Craft Council of BC is hosting sculptor Debra Sloan’s latest solo show ‘Les Grandes Dames’ at its gallery/craft shop at 1386 Cartwright street, on Granville Island. It’s in the building that we knew as Crafthouse in the past. When we found that registration for the Opening on June 6th was full we made a plan to attend Debra’s scheduled artist’s talk and see the show when there was less of a crowd. Her talk will take place at nearby Carousel Theatre, at 1411 Cartwright street on July 18th. at 7pm. https://craftcouncilbc.ca/les-grande-dames/

But then, once my own SHUFFLE evening was over I needed to take a new selection of pots into Circle Craft. So one day last week Alan and I walked from the Netloft building over to the Craft Council gallery and were able to have a good look at Debra’s astonishing group of significant women.

Debra says:

‘Les Grandes Dames’ is an assemblage of figures depicting women as distinct entities. My objective has been to add my visual voice to those who have been and are involved in repositioning the rights and personhood of women. This is also a cautionary tale. Women’s rights have existed only within narrow bands of history and usually involving only a portion of the world’s women, which, during this last century, some have been experiencing – but storm clouds loom.

We have seen Debra’s dogs, babies and horses in her previous shows but here she has concentrated on portraying elegantly clad women with distinctive, slightly worrying hairstyles. She has been inspired by Tang Dynasty terracotta Court Lady tomb figures. The large woman with the big skirt was made in collaboration with Vancouver artist Drew Shaffer, with the help of Debra’s sister, daughter and granddaughter to place the carefully selected shards and memorabilia on the vast skirt’s shelves.

There was one large angry baby in the show, and two more standing toddlers in the main area of the shop. You can’t miss Debra’s sculpture style.

Congratulations Debra. You have made an impressive court of ladies and shown us, once again, how much you enjoy the trials and tribulations of working with our favourite medium, clay. I look forward to hearing more about your intentions in portraying these carefully clad women, at your July 18th talk.

It was good to wander through Crafthouse once more. Since the closing of the Gallery of BC Ceramics across the street I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t walked in this area of the Island recently. Craft Council of BC is an important organisation which promotes the creation, study and marketing of BC’s Fine Crafts. I’ll say it again here, it’s crucial that we support craftspeople in these difficult economic times. Why don’t we have an enormous gallery and shop for Fine Crafts (and specifically Ceramics of course!) in the now-vacant Emily Carr campus just nearby?? Vancouver City, BC Arts Council, private patrons.. step up!

On the next day I was delighted to welcome a small ‘Raid’ in my studio once more. Next blog…

Contemporary BC Clay

Gillian McMillan — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 21:22:35 +0000

This was the day to make a final delivery of pots to Circle Craft to top up my stock there before Christmas. I had a drop-off appointment for 2.30pm. We woke to two inches of wet snow and I don’t relish driving in that, but it was melting and I risked it. It was sleeting when I stopped off at the Western Front to deliver two of his finished plates to Eric Metcalfe and let him have some more bisqued blank plates and jars of underglaze to keep him busy for a while.

But then the sun did its best and I enjoyed tootling around the market, buying Lazy Gourmet moussaka and a tasty salad for when I got home, and other tasty treats. I was happy to chat with Carol Henshaw who was working in the Kingsmill studio. She showed me her imaginative Solstice ornaments. I met Tessa Reed who, along with Emma Canning, is new to the studio. Vin Arora had a display of juicy brown pots.

In the Circle Craft store I was greeted by John, who was enthusiastically discussing the pottery with visitors. Alexandra helped me to unwrap my Chicken pots and some soda pieces and then I had a chance to wander around to admire everybody else’s work.

Of course I really only paid attention to ceramics, photographing work that grabbed me. I’m told that sales were remarkable over the weekend so folks are still taking note of the ‘buy local’ suggestion.

Have a stroll around the shop with these photos. My apologies for not including absolutely all potters.. there really are lots in the Co-op these days. And of course there are multitudinous other Fine Crafts to peruse.

As I left the store to drive home I took a moment to enjoy the sunshine.

I went to Vancouver!

Gillian McMillan — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:27:25 +0000

A Circle Craft customer requested a Stellar’s Jay jugbird and a Crow so my version of each were in my recent earthenware firing. There is already lots of my work in the Granville Island Co-op shop but staff said they’d like these two brought in. The sun began to emerge so I opted to drive in to town and give myself a change of scenery. Unbelievably, we hadn’t been in Vancouver since December .. why go when you can’t meet friends or safely visit galleries or eat out?

On the Island I found that there were lots of people, all wearing masks and avoiding each other, but obviously the current free parking is hugely popular. Circle Craft, in the Netloft building, wasn’t crowded and I was delighted that part-time staffer Jackie Read was on duty today. We’ve known each other for quite a while. She pointed out several shelves where my work is displayed and a cupboard where there are more.. so if special plates or jugbirds are in your Easter plans.. there they are.

On a little wander in that building and in the nearby market, I found some fabric printing stamps from Maiwa Supply to squish into clay, a scraper from the kitchen shop for wheel-throwing, a new T-shirt and mask for Alan from the Wickaninnish Gallery, a taco and a latte for my lunch and meat and vegs for supper.

Not wanting to make my expedition into town a one-stop trip I drove home via Hastings street and finally had time to visit Laura Van der Linde in her studio of the past three years. Back in the nineties her studio was in the same building as the one I shared, at 5th & Yukon. Yesterday she showed me (her sole visitor that afternoon, so safe) her perfect space. There are five wheels (only three ‘members’ who come to practice, no students pro tem), a slab roller, a huge table, lots of display shelves, good plumbing and a well-ventilated area for two electric kilns. Her studio mate is painter Jeanne Krabbendam.

I purchased one of the potters’ aprons she has designed and which are made in Alberta. It has a split front so that both knees are covered as you throw.. I should have bought one long ago. $100 incl. shipping. For more details describing these aprons go to ‘shop’ on Laura’s website and click on ‘accessories’.

Laura in one of her aprons

me, in my ultra clean apron

Laura had also prepared a number of useful items for potters in preparation for the cancelled Clay Symposium. She gave me a little slip decorating bottle with various sized nozzles and showed me jars of ready-made white terra sigillata. Now there’s something that folks would find really useful. She coats the bottoms of her ware and they’re deliciously smooth. Contact Laura for these and other handy tools.

https://www.lauravanderlinde.com/contact

Here are photos of Laura’s ever colourful work. I love her choice of lime green here and there. You can visit her studio with a prior phone call or find lots of her pots in Circle Craft shop and Crafthouse. Instagram name: lauravanderlinde

A day of errands and some conversation was a treat! Thank you Laura. I shall try not to take so long to visit again.